Volunteer of the Month

 Joshua Yong is the January 2009 - Volunteer of the Month.

Filled with great enthusiasm and passion, Joshua Yong can be found in the afternoon at the Kona Hongwanji School on the Big Island introducing tennis to the future players of the game. Preschool students between the ages of 3 and 5 are being developed with the QuickStart Tennis format. After attending the USTA Recreation Coach Workshop in Hilo this past January, Joshua took on the quest to get a youth program started at his mother’s preschool. He passionately and swiftly embraced the new concept, and his immediate success with the QuickStart Tennis program was phenomenal. He utilizes the modified equipment and adopted the games with ease. It is his ‘can do’ and ‘will do’ attitude that we recognize and appreciate. To our knowledge he is the first to introduce tennis using the QuickStart format on the Big Island. Joshua recently attained Eagle Scout status and is presently attending the University of West Hawaii majoring in education. He is also a valuable hitting partner for his alma mater, Kona Waena High School and plays in the USTA Adult League. Join us in congratulating and thanking Joshua for his good work.

                                           Josh Yong


Paul Lewis is the February 2009 – Volunteer of the Month

Little did we know that Paul Lewis was always helping the tennis community with special projects. Under the radar, he only became noticed when he began helping the USTA with Community Clean Up Days at Central Oahu Regional Park. As we got to know Paul, did we learn that he could do everything and with a heart of gold. Whether it’s a windscreen repair, a hedge to be pruned or a net post to touch up, Paul was there with special equipment. His diligence and energy is equal to three people and therefore, he is on our A Team for community clean up days. He is not one to draw attention but he is one to draw a lot of appreciation from the Section for his dedication to keep our tennis facilities safe, clean and in operating shape. Join us in congratulating and thanking Paul Lewis for his exceptional service.

                          Paul Lewis                

Patsy Fukushima is the March 2009 – Volunteer of the Month

Patsy Fukushima is one of those special and outstanding volunteers that just knows what to do. Her quiet but consistent support at our major events for several years in a row now deserves special recognition. She will take off work and use her vacation time to support the Pro Circuit Tournaments, the Boys/Girls 18s National Tournament and the ITF Jr. Tournament. She has helped us at Tennis Weekend, the Health and Fitness Expo and numerous Tennis Block Parties. She will show up at the crack of dawn to set-up and leave with us when we’ve packed the last box. She is dependable and takes the initiative to get things done when she notices that staff is tied up. Join us in congratulating and thanking Patsy for her great contributions to the section.


                    Patsy Fukushima                                                            Tammie Quinlan


Tamie Quinlan is the April 2009 – Volunteer of the Month

For nearly 10 years now, Tamie has played a significant role in the development and success of USTA Jr. Team Tennis on Kauai. It started with a couple of school assemblies and soon expanded into lesson programs. These sessions evolved into team practices and now the kids compete at Jr. Team Tennis Sectional Championships on Oahu twice a year. With the growth of junior teams came the recruitment of more parent/coaches. Tamie is involved at all of these levels. She is the ideal Community Tennis Organizer, skilled in planning, promoting and generating positive results. She shares our vision and is committed to the youngsters in her local community. Her recent attendance at a QuickStart Tennis workshop inspired her to adopt the new approach and she presently has a couple of new 10 and under programs in Hanapepe. An avid league player herself, she quite simply shares the many benefits of tennis that she enjoys. Her dedication to growing the game on Kauai is inspiring. Join us in congratulating and thanking Tamie for her year round giving.

The Baron Family is the May 2009 – Volunteer of the Month
Rhoda, Casey and Shelby Baron

If you have been to any of our major events, you were likely helped by one of these family members. They volunteer because we indeed need their help but more significantly they volunteer because they have fun helping us. They work extraordinarily well as a family unit. In particular, they have supported Albert Murata and myself at the Jr. Team Tennis Sectional Championships. They check-in teams, assign courts, post scores, organize awards, sell t-shirts and keep us cheerful. They have an ideal calmness about them, especially needed when participants become anxious and excited. They have also helped us at the Honolulu Futures, The National Boys/Girls 18s Tournament, Tennis Weekend, The Health and Fitness Expo, Special Olympics Tennis clinics and Youth Day at the Capitol. Whether its on-court or behind the desk, they are responsible and dedicated. Both Casey and Shelby are active Jr. Team Tennis Players and Rhoda is a parent/coach for the Kilauea Jr. Tennis Club. Join us in congratulating and thanking Rhoda, Casey and Shelby for awesome service!



                  Rhoda, Casey and Shelby  Baron                                                               Masu Kusume Dyer

Masu Kusume Dyer is the June 2009 – Volunteer of the Month

There’s no stopping Masu when it comes to passionately serving the Section. Yes, she’s been recognized before but she continues to outdo herself by expanding her volunteer service in new capacities. Her recent support at major events that included the National Boys/Girls 18s Tournament, The ITF Jr. Tournament, and Jr. Team Tennis Section Championships was instrumental to our success. She offers her national and international experience to our local Section. Vice versa, she will boast about our local abilities to her national counterparts, keeping the Hawaii Section in the lime light. She was particularly valuable at Youth Day at the Capitol and the Health and Fitness Expo when shifts could not be filled or volunteers were late. She held the fort down until replacements came. She also rolled up her sleeves and recently helped us CORP’s Community Clean Up Day. This was indeed something new to her volunteer experience. So just when you think you’ve done it all, just talk to Masu. We have a new appreciation for her full menu of services. Join us in congratulating and thanking Masu Kusume Dyer for her passionate service.